UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 92
Consider the following statements :
Statement-I : Marsupials are not naturally found in India.
Statement-II : Marsupials can thrive only in montane grasslands with no predators.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: C
Correct Option: C (Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect)
Explanation: Australia and nearby regions are the principal natural home of marsupials; their diverse habitats and predators disprove the proposed restriction to predator-free montane grasslands.
Statement / Pair / Item-wise Analysis:
I. Correct/True - Modern native marsupial populations are not naturally part of India’s fauna.
II. Incorrect/False - Marsupials inhabit forests, deserts and other ecosystems and coexist with predators in many ranges.
Option-wise Analysis:
A. Incorrect-Statement II is false: Marsupials inhabit forests, deserts and other ecosystems and coexist with predators in many ranges.
B. Incorrect-Statement II is false: Marsupials inhabit forests, deserts and other ecosystems and coexist with predators in many ranges.
C. Correct-only Statement I is true.
D. Incorrect-Statement I is true, not false: Modern native marsupial populations are not naturally part of India’s fauna.